Draining device

ABSTRACT

A draining device includes a draining mechanism, two conduits, and a driving mechanism. The draining mechanism includes a first cylinder defining a cavity, a first cover and a connecting member mounted on two opposite ends of the first cylinder respectively, a piston rod extending through the connecting member, and a first piston assembly mounted on the piston rod. The first cover defines a first draining hole, the connecting member defines a second draining hole. The two conduits is coupled to the first cylinder corresponding to the first and the second draining holes respectively, and communicating with the cavity. Each of the two conduits includes a first conduit and a second conduit. A first and a second check valves are positioned in the first and the second conduits respectively. The driving mechanism is mounted on the connecting member, configured to drive the piston rod to slide in the first cylinder.

FIELD

The subject matter herein generally relates to draining devices, and particularly to a draining device used in a vacuum working environment.

BACKGROUND

Draining devices, such as draining pumps, can be used to remove water/oil or other liquid from a container. A draining device can include a motor and a pumping body coupled to and driven by the motor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of a draining device.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the draining device of FIG. 1, taken along line II-II of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts have been exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure.

Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented.

The term “coupled” is defined as connected, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components, and is not necessarily limited to physical connections. The connection can be such that the objects are permanently connected or releasably connected. The term “outside” refers to a region that is beyond the outermost confines of a physical object. The term “inside” indicates that at least a portion of a region is partially contained within a boundary formed by the object. The term “substantially” is defined to be essentially conforming to the particular dimension, shape or other word that substantially modifies, such that the component need not be exact. For example, substantially cylindrical means that the object resembles a cylinder, but can have one or more deviations from a true cylinder. The term “comprising,” when utilized, means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series and the like.

The present disclosure is described in relation to draining devices, and particularly to a draining device applied in a vacuum.

A draining device for draining fluid, can include a draining mechanism, two conduits coupled to the draining mechanism, and a driving mechanism mounted on the draining mechanism. The draining mechanism can include a first cylinder having opposite ends and defining a cavity, a first cover defining a first draining hole, a connecting member defining a second draining hole, a piston rod extending through the connecting member and partially received in the cavity, and a first piston assembly mounted on an end of the piston rod and received in the cavity. The first cover and the connecting member can be respectively mounted on the opposite ends of the first cylinder. The two conduits can be coupled to the first cylinder and communicating with the cavity through the first and second draining holes, respectively. Each of the two conduits can include a first conduit communicating with the first and second draining holes, a first check valve positioned in the first conduit, a second conduit spaced from the first conduit and communicating with the first and second draining holes, and a second check valve positioned in the second conduit. The first check valve can be configured to enable fluid to flow from the cavity towards the first conduit, and the second check valve can be configured to enable fluid to flow from the second conduit towards the cavity. The driving mechanism can be mounted on the connecting member and configured to drive the piston rod to slide in the first cylinder.

FIGS. 1-2 illustrate an embodiment of a draining device 100. The draining device 100 can be used to remove liquid, such as water and oil from a container (not shown), particularly can be applied in a vacuum. The draining device 100 can include a draining mechanism 10, a conduit 30 coupled to the draining mechanism 10, and a driving mechanism 50 coupled to the draining mechanism 10. The driving mechanism 50 can drive the draining mechanism 10 to drain the liquid from the container towards the conduit 30.

The draining mechanism 10 can be substantially a cylinder-shape and include a first cylinder 11, a first cover 13, a connecting member 15, a sealing member 16, a piston rod 17, and a first piston assembly 19. The first cover 13 and the connecting member 15 can be positioned on opposite ends of the first cylinder 11, respectively. The piston rod 17 can be inserted through the connecting member 15 and can be partially received in the first cylinder 11. The sealing member 16 can be positioned between the piston rod 17 and the connecting member 15. The first piston assembly 19 can be sleeved on the piston rod 17 and received in the first cylinder 11.

The first cylinder 11 can be substantially a hollow cylinder and define a cavity 111 along an axis.

The first cover 13 can be arranged and mounted on an end of the first cylinder 11, and define a first draining hole 131 at a side. The first draining hole 131 can communicate with the cavity 111 and can be used to couple to the conduit 30.

The connecting member 15 can be substantially cylinder-shape and positioned on the other end of the first cylinder 11 opposite to the first cover 13. The connecting member 15 can define a through hole 151, a second draining hole 153, and a first air inlet 154. The through hole 151 can be oriented along an axis of the connecting member 15 and can communicate with the cavity 111. The second draining hole 153 can be defined at a periphery of the connecting member 15 and adjacent to the first cylinder 11, and the second draining hole 153 can communicate with the through hole 151 and can be oriented along a radial direction of the connecting member 15. The first air inlet 154 can be defined at a periphery of the connecting member 15 away from the first cylinder 11, and configured to couple to an external air source (not shown). The connecting member 15 can be further equipped with a mounting portion 155. The mounting portion 155 can protrude from a middle part of the periphery of the connecting member 15, and can be substantially an annular flange. The draining device 100 can be mounted in a working environment through the mounting portion 155. The mounting portion 155 can define a mounting slot 1551 configured to provide a room for a sealing member, such as, but not necessary limited to, an o-ring, such that the draining device 100 can be hermetically sealed when mounted in the vacuum working environment.

In the illustrated embodiment, the sealing member 16 can be an o-ring. The sealing member 16 can be arranged in the connecting member 15 and sleeved on the piston rod 17

The piston rod 17 can be substantially a stepped shaft, and can slidably insert through the through hole 151 and the sealing member 16. The piston rod 17 can include a main body 171, a first fixing portion 173 and a second fixing portion 175. The first fixing portion 173 and the second fixing portion 175 can be formed on opposite ends of the main body 171 of the piston rod 17, and the first fixing portion 173 can be received in the cavity 111. The main body 171 can be slidably inserted through the through hole 151 and define a first receiving hole 1711 on an end adjacent to the first fixing portion 173. In the illustrated embodiment, the first receiving hole 1711 can be a blind hole and can be defined at a periphery of the main body 171, extending outwardly along a radially direction of the main body 171. An inner diameter of the first receiving hole 1711 can be 0.5 millimeter or less than 0.5 millimeter. An outer diameter of the first fixing portion 173 can be less than an outer diameter of the main body 171. The first fixing portion 173 can be equipped with a connecting portion 1731 on an end away from the main body 171, and an external thread (not labeled) on an outer surface of the connecting portion 1731. The first fixing portion member 173 can further define a second receiving hole 1733 oriented along an axis on an end away from the main body 171. The second receiving hole 1733 can extend to connect with the first receiving hole 1711. An inner diameter of the second receiving hole 1733 can be 1 millimeter or less than 1 millimeter. The first receiving hole 1711 and the second receiving hole 1733 can be used to receive gas dissolved in the liquid, such that the draining mechanism 10 can operate fluently. A structure of the second fixing portion 175 can be substantially the same as a structure of the first fixing portion 173. The second fixing portion 175 can include a connecting portion 1751.

The first piston assembly 19 can be positioned on the first fixing portion 173 and can slide in the cavity 111 along with the piston rod 17, to enable the draining mechanism 10 to work. The first piston assembly 19 can divide the cavity 111 into a first cavity 1111 adjacent to the first cover 13 and a second cavity 1113 away from the first cover 13. The first piston assembly 19 can include a mounting base 191, a magnetic member 193, a piston body 195, a sealing ring 197, and a securing member 199.

The mounting base 191 can be sleeved on the first fixing portion 173 and can resist against the main body 171. A cushion 1911 can be located on a surface of the mounting base 191 facing the connecting member 15. When the first piston assembly 19 slides towards the connecting member 15, the cushion 1911 can buffer the first piston assembly 19, and protect the mounting base 191 and the connecting member 15 from damage. The magnetic member 193 can be sleeved on an end of the mounting base 191 away from the main body 171, and can be used to couple to an outer magnetic sensor and a controller, such that the outer magnetic sensor can sense a location of the first piston assembly 191 and the controller can control the draining device 100 to work according to the location. The piston body 195 can be sleeved on the first fixing portion 171 adjacent to the first cover 13. A cushion 1951 can be located on a surface of the piston body 195 facing the first cover 13. When the first piston assembly 19 slides towards the first cover 13, the cushion 1911 can buffer and protect the piston body 195 and the first cover 13 from damage. The sealing ring 197 can be sleeved on the piston body 195 and can resist against an inner surface of the cavity 111. In the illustrated embodiment, the securing member 199 can be a nut. The securing member 199 can be sleeved on the first fixing portion 173 adjacent to the piston body 195, and thread to the connecting portion 1731, such that the mounting member 191, the magnetic member 193, and the piston body 195 can be arranged side by side and resist on the main body 171.

In the illustrated embodiment, there can be two conduits 30. The two conduits 30 can be coupled to the first draining hole 131 and the second draining hole 153, respectively. Each of the two conduits 30 can include a main conduit 32, a first conduit 34, and a second conduit 36. An end of the main conduit 32 can communicate with the first draining hole 131. The first conduit 34 and the second conduit 36 can be spaced from each other, and communicate with each other on an end to couple with the main conduit 32. Such that, the conduit 30 can be formed substantially as a Y-shape. A first check valve 341 can be positioned in the first conduit 34, and enable the pre-drained liquid to flow from the container (not shown) into the main conduit 32 and the first conduit 34, towards the first cavity 111. A second check valve 361 can be positioned in the second conduit 36, and enable the pre-drained liquid to flow from the first cavity 111 into the main conduit 32 and the second conduit 36, towards an outer space.

In the illustrated embodiment, the driving mechanism 50 can be substantially a pneumatic device and can be configured to reciprocate the piston rod 17 in the cavity 111. A structure of the driving mechanism 50 can be similar to a structure of the draining mechanism 10. The driving mechanism 50 can include a second cylinder 51, a second cover 53, and a second piston assembly 55. The second cylinder 51 can be positioned on the connecting member 15 away from the first cylinder 11. The second cylinder 51 can define a cavity 511 configured to receive an end of the piston rod 17. The cavity 511 can communicate with the first air inlet 154. The second cover 53 can be positioned on an end of the second cylinder 51 away from the connecting member 15. The second cover 53 can define a second air inlet 531 communicating with the cavity 511, and configured to couple to the outer air source. The second piston assembly 55 can be mounted on the second fixing portion 175 of the piston rod 17, and can slide in the cavity 511. A structure of the second piston assembly 55 can be substantially identical to the first piston assembly 19.

In assembly, the piston rod 17 can be inserted through the connecting member 15 and the sealing member 16, the first piston assembly 19 can be mounted on the first fixing portion 173 of the piston rod 17, and the second piston assembly 55 can be mounted on the second fixing portion 175. The first cylinder 11 can be arranged on the connecting member 15 corresponding to the first piston assembly 19, the second cylinder 51 can be arranged on the connecting member 15 corresponding to the second piston assembly 55. The first cover 13 can be positioned on the first cylinder 11 and the second cover 53 can be positioned on the second cylinder 51. The two conduits 30 can be coupled to the first draining hole 131 and the second draining hole 153, respectively.

In operation, the cavity 111 of the first cylinder 11 can be filled with liquid, two free ends of the two conduits 30 can be insert into the pre-drained liquid in the container, and the draining device 100 can be started. The driving mechanism 50 can drive the piston rod 17 and the first piston assembly 19 to slide back and forth in the first cylinder 11. When the first piston assembly 19 moves close to the first cover 13, a volume of the first cavity 1111 can be reduced, and the liquid contained in the first cavity 11 can be forced to flow through the first draining hole 131, the main conduit 32 and the second conduit 36 of one of the two conduits 30 corresponding to the first draining hole 131. At the same time, a volume of the second cavity 1113 can be enlarged, and a pressure therein can be lowered, such that the pre-drained liquid can be drawn from the container through the main conduit 32 and the first conduit 34 or the other one of the two conduits 30 corresponding to the second draining hole 153, and through the second draining hole 153, towards the second cavity 1113. When the first piston assembly 19 moves away from the first cover 13, the volume of the first cavity 1111 can be enlarged, and the pressure therein can be lowered, such that the pre-drained liquid can be drawn from the container through the main conduit 32 and the first conduit 34 corresponding to the first draining hole 131, and through the first draining hole 131, towards the first cavity 1111. At the same time, the volume of the second cavity 1113 can be reduced, and the liquid therein can be forced to flow through the second draining hole 153, the main conduit 32 and the second conduit 36 corresponding to the second draining hole 153. The piston rod 17 can reciprocate the first piston assembly 19, such that the draining mechanism 10 can keep the pre-drained liquid flowing in the container.

In an alternative embodiment, the driving mechanism 50 can be other driving devices, such as, but not limited to, a four-bar mechanism driven by a motor, a feed screw-nut mechanism, or other linear driving mechanism, such that the driving mechanism 50 can drive the piston rod 17 and the first piston assembly 19 to reciprocate in the first cavity 11. The first receiving hole 1733 and the second receiving hole 1711 can be omitted. The first cover 13 can be omitted, such that the first cylinder 11 can be formed as a hollow structure with a bottom (13) on a end, and the first draining 131 coupled to the conduit 30 can be defined on the bottom (13). Similarly, the second cover 53 can be omitted.

In an alternative embodiment, the conduit 30 can be other geometric shapes, for example, the main conduit 32 can be omitted, and the first conduit 32 and the second conduit 34 can be coupled to and communicating with the cavity 11 respectively, but spaced from each other. Such that the liquid in the first conduit 32 and the second conduit 34 can flow in two opposite directions.

The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Many details are often found in the art such as the other features of an external air source. Therefore, many such details are neither shown nor described. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the detail, including in matters of shape, size and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure up to, and including the full extent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the claims. It will therefore be appreciated that the embodiments described above may be modified within the scope of the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A draining device for draining fluid, the draining device comprising: a draining mechanism including: a first cylinder having opposite ends and defining a cavity; a first cover defining a first draining hole; a connecting member defining a second draining hole; a piston rod extending through the connecting member and partially received in the cavity; and a first piston assembly mounted on an end of the piston rod and received in the cavity, wherein the first cover and the connecting member are respectively mounted on the opposite ends of the first cylinder; two conduits coupled to the first cylinder and communicating with the cavity through the first and second draining holes, respectively, each of the two conduits comprising: a first conduit communicating with the first and second draining holes; a first check valve positioned in the first conduit and configured to enable fluid to flow from the cavity towards the first conduit; a second conduit spaced from the first conduit and communicating with the first and second draining holes; and a second check valve positioned in the second conduit and configured to enable fluid to flow from the second conduit towards the cavity; and a driving mechanism mounted on the connecting member and configured to drive the piston rod to slide in the first cylinder.
 2. The draining device of claim 1 , wherein the connecting member comprises a mounting portion protruding from a periphery thereof; the mounting portion is a flange, and defines a mounting slot configured to receive a sealing member.
 3. The draining device of claim 1 , wherein the piston rod comprises a main body extending through the connecting member; a sealing member is positioned between the main body and the connecting member.
 4. The draining device of claim 3 , wherein the piston rod further comprises a first fixing portion and a second fixing portion on opposite ends of the main body; the first piston assembly is sleeved on the first fixing portion and the driving mechanism is positioned on the second fixing portion.
 5. The draining device of claim 4, wherein the main body defines a first receiving hole at a periphery thereof; the receiving hole is adjacent to the first fixing portion and extends along radial direction of the main body; the first fixing portion defines a second receiving hole on an end thereof; the second receiving hole is away from the main body and extending along an axis of the first fixing portion; the second receiving hole extends into the main body and communicates with the first receiving hole.
 6. The draining device of claim 3, wherein the first piston assembly comprises a mounting base mounted on the piston rod, and a magnetic member sleeved on the mounting base.
 7. The draining device of claim 6, wherein the first piston assembly further comprises a piston body sleeved on the piston rod; the piston rod is positioned on a side of the magnetic member adjacent to the first cover.
 8. The draining device of claim 7, wherein the first piston assembly further comprises a sealing ring positioned on an outer surface of the piston rod and resisting against an inner surface of the cover.
 9. The draining device of claim 7, wherein the first piston assembly further comprises two cushions; one of the cushion is positioned on a surface of the mounting base facing the connecting member; the other cushion is positioned on a surface of the piston body departing from the magnetic.
 10. The draining device of claim 7, wherein the piston rod further comprises a connecting portion on an end of the main body; the first piston assembly further comprises a securing member, the securing member is sleeved on the piston rod adjacent to the piston body.
 11. The draining device of claim 10, wherein the connecting portion is equipped with an external thread on an outer surface thereof, the securing member threads to the connecting portion to fix the first piston assembly.
 12. The draining device of claim 1, wherein the driving mechanism comprises a second cylinder, a second cover, and a second piston; the second cylinder couples to an end of the connecting member away from the first cylinder and defines a cavity configured to partially receive the piston rod; the second cover is positioned on an end of the second cylinder away from the connecting member; the second piston assembly is sleeved on the piston rod and received in the second cylinder.
 13. The draining device of claim 12, wherein the connecting member further defines a first air inlet at a periphery thereof; the second cover defines a second air inlet thereon; the first air inlet and the second air inlet both communicate with the cavity of the second cylinder.
 14. A draining device, comprising: a draining mechanism including: a first cylinder having opposite ends and defining a cavity; a first cover defining a first draining hole; a connecting member defining a second draining hole; a piston rod extending through the connecting member and partially received in the cavity; and a first piston assembly mounted on an end of the piston rod and received in the cavity, wherein the first cover and the connecting member are respectively mounted on the opposite ends of the first cylinder;; two conduits coupled to the first cylinder and communicating with the cavity through the first and second draining holes, respectively, each of the two conduits comprising: a first conduit communicating with the first and second draining holes; a first check valve positioned in the first conduit and configured to enable fluid to flow from the cavity towards the first conduit; a second conduit spaced from the first conduit and communicating with the first and second draining holes; and a second check valve positioned in the second conduit and configured to enable fluid to flow from the second conduit towards the cavity.
 15. The draining device of claim 14, further comprising a driving mechanism mounted on the connecting member and coupling to the piston rod; the driving mechanism is a four-bar mechanism capable of driving the piston rod and the first piston assembly to slide reciprocally in the first cavity.
 16. The draining device of claim 14, further comprising a driving mechanism mounted on the connecting member and coupling to the piston rod; the driving mechanism is a feed screw-nut mechanism capable of driving the piston rod and the first piston assembly to slide reciprocally in the first cavity.
 17. The draining device of claim 14, wherein the connecting member comprises a mounting portion protruding from a periphery thereof; the mounting portion is a flange, and defines a mounting slot configured to receive a sealing member.
 18. The draining device of claim 14, wherein the piston rod comprises a main body extending through the connecting member, a first fixing portion and a second fixing portion on opposite ends of the main body; the first piston assembly is sleeved on the first fixing portion.
 19. The draining device of claim 18, wherein the main body defines a first receiving hole at a periphery thereof; the receiving hole is adjacent to the first fixing portion and extends along a radial direction of the main body; the first fixing portion defines a second receiving hole on an end thereof; the second receiving hole is away from the main body and extending along an axis of the first fixing portion ; the second receiving hole extends into the main body and communicates with the first receiving hole.
 20. A draining device, comprising: a draining mechanism comprising: a first cylinder defining a cavity and comprising a bottom on a end thereof, the bottom defining a first draining hole; a connecting member defining a second draining hole, and being mounted on an end r oppositely to the bottom; a piston rod extending through the connecting member and partially received in the cavity; and a first piston assembly mounted on an end of the piston rod and received in the cavity; two conduits coupled to the first cylinder and communicating with the cavity through the first and second draining holes, respectively, each of the two conduits comprising: a first conduit communicating with the first and second draining holes; a first check valve positioned in the first conduit to allow a flow to flow out from the cavity towards the first conduit; a second conduit spaced from the first conduit and communicating with the first and second draining holes; and a second check valve positioned in the second conduit to allow a flow to flow out from the second conduit towards the cavity( ) and a driving mechanism mounted on the connecting member and configured to drive the piston rod to slide in the first cylinder, comprising: a second cylinder with a bottom coupled to an end of the connecting member away from the first cylinder and defining a cavity configured to partially receive the piston rod, the bottom of the second cylinder being away from the connecting member; and a second piston assembly sleeved on the piston rod and received in the second cylinder. 